Delta Air Lines Inc. last week announced a partnership with Ant Financial Services Group and UATP to make it easier for Chinese consumers to purchase airline tickets via delta.com, according to a press release. The move, which sees Delta become the first U.S. carrier to add Ant Financial's Alipay payment platform to its website, is part of the airline's ongoing effort to serve Chinese travelers, according to Delta.

UATP's alternative form of payment processing initiative connects airlines with online payment brands such as Alipay, according to the announcement.

Alipay is China's leading online payment provider and the primary means of online and mobile payment for Chinese consumers.

"We are thrilled to help Delta Air Lines make purchasing travel from China easier and more accessible than ever," said Jingming Li, president of Ant Financial Services Group for the Americas. "Giving Chinese customers access to the payment method they most trust signals the great service that they can expect when they travel with Delta — from the ease of online booking to the airline's Chinese-speaking flight attendants and airport support."